Vehicular hitching system

ABSTRACT

A vehicular hitching system includes a shaft supported on a pup trailer for sliding movement outwardly from the front of the trailer, and air cylinders for biasing the shaft inwardly. A pintle hook is secured to the rear of a mother trailer and receives an eye mounted on the shaft. Four rollers are pivotally mounted at the rear corners of the mother trailer, and roller receiving plates extend across the top and bottom of the front surface of the pup trailer. During a relative turning movement between the trailers, two of the rollers engage and thereafter move across the roller receiving plates. During this action the shaft is drawn outwardly from the front of the pup trailer against the action of the air cylinders.

Unite States Patent 1 Parker Apr. 17, 1973 VEHICULAR HITCHING SYSTEMJohn W. Parker, Irving, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Parker Uptight Trailer Hitch Com- [22] Filed: Mar. 29,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 129,022

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl ..280/408, 280/446 R, 280/486 [51] Int. Cl. ..B60d 1/02 [58]Field of Search ..280/446, 447, 408,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,125,059 3/1964 Verneaux etal. ..280/486 X 3,062,170 ll/1962 Verneaux ..280/408 X 3,439,937 4/1969Dixon ..280/446 R 2,252,135 8/1941 Oyler ....280/408 X 2,701,145 2/1955Kunz ..280/486 X 3,244,434 4/1966 Reed et a1 ..280/482 X Taggart..280/482 X Hetzler ..280/458 Primary Examiner-Leo F riagliaAttorney-Richards, Harris & Hubbard [5 7 ABSTRACT A vehicular hitchingsystem includes a shaft supported on a pup trailer for sliding movementoutwardly from the front of the trailer, and air cylinders for biasingthe shaft inwardly. A pintle hook is secured to the rear of a mothertrailer and receives an eye mounted on the shaft. Four rollers arepivotally mounted at the rear corners of the mother trailer, and rollerreceiving plates extend across the top and bottom of the front surfaceof the pup trailer. During a relative turning movement between thetrailers, two of the rollers engage and thereafter move across theroller receiving plates. During this action the shaft is drawn outwardlyfrom the front of the pup trailer against the action of the aircylinders.

18 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 11m 3'. 727. 945

SHEET 1 BF 3 FIG. I

INVENTORI FIG. IO JOHN w. PARKER )aAAWQ :5 W444.

ATTORNEYS PATENTEUAPR 1 H575 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTORI JOHN W. PARKERATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR171973 SHEEI 3 [IF 3 n wfm mmm02 u E4 IkOm m0 02m0275 OF INVENTOR JOHN W. PARKER VEHICULAR HITCIIING SYSTEM BACKGROUNDAND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a vehicularhitching system, and more particularly to a system for connecting atowed vehicle closely adjacent a towing vehicle, and yet permittingrelative turning movements between the vehicles.

In those situations where it becomes desirable to transport a greateramount of cargo than can conveniently be accommodated in a standardsemitrailer van, it has become commonto connect an auxiliary or pup"trailer behind a standard or mother trailer for transport by the sametractor.

The pup trailer rigs that have been used heretofore have severaldisadvantages. For example, the drawbar assemblies that are presentlyemployed to connect pup trailers to mother trailers require considerablespacing between the rear of a mother trailer and the front of a puptrailer to permit the two trailers to turn relative to each other. Atthe same time, the overall length, width and height dimensions of amotor vehicle are limited by State and Federal highway regulations.Thus, any spacing between a mother trailer and a pup trailer results inan appreciable loss of cargo capacity. Further,'the pup trailer drawbarassemblies that are currently in use necessitate the positioning of theforward portion of the floor of a pup trailer considerably above therear portion to accommodate the dolly assembly mounted under the frontof the pup unit. This also results in a loss of cargo capacity.

Still further, as the pup trailer and mother trailer will not follow thesame track during a turn, maneuverability of the two trailer vans issometimes cumbersome.

The present invention comprises a system for connecting pup trailers tomother trailers which overcomes the foregoing and other disadvantagesthat are characteristic of the prior art. In accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the invention, a pup trailer is connected to amother trailer by a shaft mounted for movement outwardly and inwardlyrelative to the front of the pup trailer, and comer members are mountedat the rear comers of the mother trailer for engagement with the frontof the pup trailer in response to relative turning movements between thetrailers. By this means, the pup trailer is positioned closely adjacentthe mother trailer, and yet the trailers can be turned relative to eachother without difficulty.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of theinvention may be had by referring to the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a side view of a vehicle including a pup trailer that isconnected to the mother trailer by a vehicular hitching systemincorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the vehicle shown inFIG. I, and in which certain parts have been broken away to more clearlyillustrate certain features of the hitching system;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of the hitching system;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along'the line 4-4 in FIG. 2in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a pneumatic circuit employed inthe hitching system;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the trailers shown in FIG. 1during a turn; and

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic illustrations of the trailer unitsduring progressive stages of a turn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a vehicle 10 suitable for over-the-roadtransportation of furniture, household goods, and similar cargos of thetype traditionally carried in moving vans. The vehicle 10 includes aconventional tractor 12, a main or mother trailer 14, and an auxiliaryor pup trailer 16 which is connected to the mother trailer 14 by avehicular hitching system 18 incorporating the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the hitching system 18 includes a squareshaft 20 which extends through and is slidably received within a largersquare tube 22 and a pair of roller assemblies 24. As is best shown inFIG. 4, each roller assembly 24 comprises a pair of opposed rollers 26which engage the upper and lower surfaces of the square shaft 20 tofacilitate sliding movement of the shaft 20 forwardly and rearwardly ofthe pup trailer 16. The roller assemblies 24 are mounted on tube 22, andthe tube 22 is secured to the frame of the pup trailer 16. The squareshaft 20 is prevented from transverse movement with respect to the puptrailer 16 because it is mounted within tube 22 which is securelyattached to pup trailer 16.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, a pair of air cylinders 28 are secured tothe opposite sides of the square tube 22. A pair of brackets 30 arefixed to the opposite sides of the square shaft 20, and each aircylinder 28 includes a forwardly extending piston rod 32 which is fixedto one of the brackets 30. During normal use of the hitching system 18,the rod ends of the air cylinders 28 are energized with compressed air,whereby the square shaft 20 is normally biased inwardly toward theposition shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the mother trailer 14 and the pup trailer 16are interconnected by an eye 34 which is fixed to the proximal end ofthe square shaft 20, and which is normally received in a conventionalpintle hook 36. The pintle hook 36 is secured to the extreme rear of themother trailer 14 and is provided with an air cylinder 38 which uponengagement of the eye 34 with hook 36 urges a rubber pin 39 forward tominimize movement between the eye 34 and the pintle hook 36. Thetrailers 14 and 16 are further interconnected by a pair of safety chains40 which extend between the square shaft 20 and a U-bolt 42 mounted onthe trailer 14. Service and emergency compressed air for the pup trailer16 is provided through lines 43 and 45 which are connected byconventional glad hands, and electrical power is provided through anelectrical line 46 and a conventional electrical connector (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 5, a pneumatic circuit 48 for the hitching system18 is schematically illustrated. The circuit 4% is mounted on the puptrailer 16 and receives compressed air from the tractor 12 through airline 45. Compressed air moved by the circuit 48 is directed through areservoir 50 into a conventional brake proa pair of corner members, onemounted at one corner of the adjacent end of the first vehicle forengagement with and for transverse movement relative to the adjacent endof the second vehicle in response to relative turning movements betweenthe vehicles in one direction, and the other mounted at the other cornerof the adjacent end of the first vehicle for engagement with and fortransverse movement relative to the adjacent end of the second vehiclein response to relative turning movements between the vehicles in theother direction; and

means pivotally interconnecting the first and second vehicles forbiasing the vehicles toward one another and extensible relative to oneof said vehicles to permit relative turning movement therebetween.

2. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 1 wherein the comermembers comprise rollers mounted on the first vehicle and positionedbetween the adjacent ends of the vehicles.

3. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 1 wherein thebiasing means includes a member mounted on the second vehicle formovement outwardly of the adjacent end thereof and means forcontinuously urging the outwardly moving member to move inwardly of theadjacent end of the second vehicle.

4. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 3 wherein the urgingmeans comprises a fluid spring connected between the second vehicle andthe outwardly moving member.

5. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 1 wherein the meansinterconnecting the vehicles comprises an elongate shaft and furtherincluding means for slidably supporting the shaft on the second vehicle.

6. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 5 further includingan air cylinder connected between the second vehicle and the shaft forurging the shaft to move inwardly relative to the adjacent surface ofthe second vehicle and relief valve means for maintaining asubstantially constant pressure within the air cylinder during turningmovements between the vehicles.

7. A vehicular hitching system comprising:

a towed vehicle having a reinforced front surface;

a towing vehicle;

a pair of rollers mounted at the opposite rear corners of the towingvehicle for engagement with and for movement across the reinforced frontsurface of the towed vehicle in response to relative turning movementsbetween the vehicles;

a member mounted on the towed vehicle for sliding movement forwardly andrearwardly thereof;

means biasing the sliding member for movement rearwardly of the towedvehicle, and

means pivotally interconnecting the forward end of the sliding memberand the rear of the towed vehicle and extensible relative to one of saidvehicles to permit relative turning movement therebetween.

8. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 7 wherein the pairof rollers is mounted at the upper ends of the opposite rear comers ofthe towing vehicle and further including an additional pair of rollersmounted at the lower ends of the opposite rear comers of the towingvehicle and an additional reinforced front surface on the towed vehiclefor engagement by the additional pair of rollers.

9. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 7 wherein thesliding member comprises an elongate shaft and further including guidemeans supporting the shaft on the towed vehicle for sliding movementforwardly and rearwardly thereof.

10. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 9 wherein the guidemeans prevents movement of the shaft transversely of the towed vehicle.

ll 1. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 7 wherein thebiasing means comprises an air cylinder connected between the member andthe towed vehicle and means for maintaining substantially constantpressure within the air cylinder.

112. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 11 furtherincluding means for selectively extending and retracting the aircylinder and thereby controlling the distance between the towing vehicleand the towed vehicle.

113. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 7 wherein theinterconnecting means comprises a pintle hook mounted on the rear of thetowing vehicle and an eye mounted on the proximal end of the slidingmember and received in the pintle hook.

14. The vehicular hitching system comprising:

a towing vehicle having a rear end;

a towed vehicle having a front end;

a pintle hook fixed to the towing vehicle adjacent the rear end thereof;I

a first roller mounted at one corner of the rear end of the towingvehicle for engagement with and thereafter for transverse movementacross the front end of the towed vehicle in response to relativeturning movements between the vehicles in one direction;

a second roller mounted at the other corner of the rear end of thetowing vehicle for engagement with and thereafter for transversemovement across the front end of the towed vehicle in response torelative turning movements between the vehicles in the other direction;

a member mounted on the towed vehicle for outward and inward movementrelative to the front end thereof;

means biasing the member for inward movement relative to the front endof the towed vehicle, and

an eye mounted on the distal end of the member and received by thepintle hook.

15. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 14 wherein thepintle hook is positioned midway between the comers of the rear end ofthe towing vehicle, and wherein the member is positioned midway betweenthe corners of the front end of the towed vehicle.

16. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 14 wherein themember comprises an elongate shaft and further including means forsupporting the shaft on the towed vehicle, for permitting slidingmovement of the shaft inwardly and outwardly relative to the front endof the towed vehicle, and for preventing movement of the shafttransversely of the front end of the towed vehicle.

17 further characterized by means for selectively extending andretracting the pneumatic cylinder and thereby selectively controllingthe distance between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle.

1. A vehicular hitching system comprising: first and second vehicleshaving adjacent ends; a pair of corner members, one mounted at onecorner of the adjacent end of the first vehicle for engagement with andfor transverse movement relative to the adjacent end of the secondvehicle in response to relative turning movements between the vehiclesin one direction, and the other mounted at the other corner of theadjacent end of the first vehicle for engagement with and for transversemovement relative to the adjacent end of the second vehicle in responseto relative turning movements between the vehicles in the otherdirection; and means pivotally interconnecting the first and secondvehicles for biasing the vehicles toward one another and extensiblerelative to one of said vehicles to permit relative turning movementtherebetween.
 2. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 1wherein the corner members comprise rollers mounted on the first vehicleand positioned between the adjacent ends of the vehicles.
 3. Thevehicular hitching system according to claim 1 wherein the biasing meansincludes a member mounted on the second vehicle for movement outwardlyof the adjacent end thereof and means for continuously urging theoutwardly moving member to move inwardly of the adjacent end of thesecond vehicle.
 4. The vehiculaR hitching system according to claim 3wherein the urging means comprises a fluid spring connected between thesecond vehicle and the outwardly moving member.
 5. The vehicularhitching system according to claim 1 wherein the means interconnectingthe vehicles comprises an elongate shaft and further including means forslidably supporting the shaft on the second vehicle.
 6. The vehicularhitching system according to claim 5 further including an air cylinderconnected between the second vehicle and the shaft for urging the shaftto move inwardly relative to the adjacent surface of the second vehicleand relief valve means for maintaining a substantially constant pressurewithin the air cylinder during turning movements between the vehicles.7. A vehicular hitching system comprising: a towed vehicle having areinforced front surface; a towing vehicle; a pair of rollers mounted atthe opposite rear corners of the towing vehicle for engagement with andfor movement across the reinforced front surface of the towed vehicle inresponse to relative turning movements between the vehicles; a membermounted on the towed vehicle for sliding movement forwardly andrearwardly thereof; means biasing the sliding member for movementrearwardly of the towed vehicle, and means pivotally interconnecting theforward end of the sliding member and the rear of the towed vehicle andextensible relative to one of said vehicles to permit relative turningmovement therebetween.
 8. The vehicular hitching system according toclaim 7 wherein the pair of rollers is mounted at the upper ends of theopposite rear corners of the towing vehicle and further including anadditional pair of rollers mounted at the lower ends of the oppositerear corners of the towing vehicle and an additional reinforced frontsurface on the towed vehicle for engagement by the additional pair ofrollers.
 9. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 7 whereinthe sliding member comprises an elongate shaft and further includingguide means supporting the shaft on the towed vehicle for slidingmovement forwardly and rearwardly thereof.
 10. The vehicular hitchingsystem according to claim 9 wherein the guide means prevents movement ofthe shaft transversely of the towed vehicle.
 11. The vehicular hitchingsystem according to claim 7 wherein the biasing means comprises an aircylinder connected between the member and the towed vehicle and meansfor maintaining substantially constant pressure within the air cylinder.12. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 11 furtherincluding means for selectively extending and retracting the aircylinder and thereby controlling the distance between the towing vehicleand the towed vehicle.
 13. The vehicular hitching system according toclaim 7 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a pintle hookmounted on the rear of the towing vehicle and an eye mounted on theproximal end of the sliding member and received in the pintle hook. 14.The vehicular hitching system comprising: a towing vehicle having a rearend; a towed vehicle having a front end; a pintle hook fixed to thetowing vehicle adjacent the rear end thereof; a first roller mounted atone corner of the rear end of the towing vehicle for engagement with andthereafter for transverse movement across the front end of the towedvehicle in response to relative turning movements between the vehiclesin one direction; a second roller mounted at the other corner of therear end of the towing vehicle for engagement with and thereafter fortransverse movement across the front end of the towed vehicle inresponse to relative turning movements between the vehicles in the otherdirection; a member mounted on the towed vehicle for outward and inwardmovement relative to the front end thereof; means biasing the member forinward movement relative to the front end of the towed vehicle, and aneye mounted on the distal end of the meMber and received by the pintlehook.
 15. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 14 whereinthe pintle hook is positioned midway between the corners of the rear endof the towing vehicle, and wherein the member is positioned midwaybetween the corners of the front end of the towed vehicle.
 16. Thevehicular hitching system according to claim 14 wherein the membercomprises an elongate shaft and further including means for supportingthe shaft on the towed vehicle, for permitting sliding movement of theshaft inwardly and outwardly relative to the front end of the towedvehicle, and for preventing movement of the shaft transversely of thefront end of the towed vehicle.
 17. The vehicular hitching systemaccording to claim 14 wherein the biasing means comprises at least onepneumatic cylinder connected between the towed vehicle and the memberfor urging the member to move inwardly relative to the front end of thetowed vehicle.
 18. The vehicular hitching system according to claim 17further characterized by means for selectively extending and retractingthe pneumatic cylinder and thereby selectively controlling the distancebetween the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle.